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Biomedical subjects

P Potgieter

Publications and source records attributed to P Potgieter.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Do plastic adhesive drapes prevent post caesarean wound infection?

We conducted a prospective randomized controlled double-blind trial at a regional referral centre for the Eastern Cape area, (Livingstone Hospital) to determine whether the use of plastic adhesive drapes intraoperatively would prevent Post Caesarean Section Wound Infection. A total of 620 patients undergoing Caesarean section (CS) were enrolled for randomization in the trial. Fifteen patients were excluded, while 305 received drapes (test group) and 300 did not (control group). Two patients in the control group were subsequently excluded. The primary outcome measure was the presence of Post Caesarean Wound Infection. A secondary outcome measure was the number of days in hospital post operation. The study and control groups were comparable at entry. Results show that 34 patients in the test group (N= 305) developed wound sepsis (11.1%) compared with 30 in the control group (N= 298) (10.1%) (difference not significant; Fisher's exact test 0.6933). Average days spent in hospital postoperatively were similar for both test (infected cases: mean 10.56 SD 3.84; non-infected cases: mean 5.21 SD 1.3) and control groups (infected cases: mean 10.18 SD 3.81; non-infected cases: mean 5.2 SD 0.93) (NS). We concluded that the use of plastic adhesive skin drapes did not avert PCWS or decrease the length of post operative stay in hospital for septic cases.

Bandages↗
PubMed1994

The use of fluoroquinolones in neutropenic patients--analysis of adverse effects.

The fluoroquinolones have been extensively used in the neutropenic patient. When fluoroquinolone monotherapy was used as prophylaxis, frequently for extended periods, the rate of adverse effect of ciprofloxacin (6.9%) ofloxacin (11.6%) and norfloxacin (5.5%) were significantly lower than those of the comparator agents--co-trimoxazole, vancomycin and polymycin. Rash and gastrointestinal upset were the commonest adverse effects associated with the fluoroquinolones. When used as monotherapy for bacterial infections, often intravenously and in high dosages, the cumulative rate of adverse effects caused by the fluoroquinolones (12.6%) was similar to that caused by the comparator agents (10.3%), but significantly higher than reported for non-neutropenic patients (6.4%) and for prophylactic use. The main adverse events were also rashes (15.4%) and gastrointestinal upset (6.1%). When fluoroquinolones were used as therapy of bacterial infections in combination with other agents, the incidence of adverse events was 14.9%, which was similar to the comparator agents (13.5%). Adverse events were also similar except that nephrotoxicity was commonest with comparator combinations (4.0%). The data suggest that fluoroquinolone prophylaxis in neutropenic patients, even for prolonged periods, is safer than the comparator agents, but is associated with more frequent adverse events than in non-neutropenic patients. Fluoroquinolone therapy, frequently with high dosages, is associated with similar rate of adverse events as the comparator agents. When used in combination with the other antibiotics, fluoroquinolones are as safe as the comparator agents.

Animals↗